Deciphering the diversity and history of New World nightjars (Aves: Caprimulgidae) using molecular phylogenetics
Sigurðsson, Snorri
Cracraft, Joel
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
2014
2014-03-12
170
3
506
545
Sennett
1888
[881,1162,1194,1215]
Aves
Caprimulgidae
Nyctidromus
Animalia
Caprimulgiformes
35
541
Chordata
species
merrilli
Previously N. a. merrilli, and includes individuals assigned to N. a. insularis, N. a. intercedens, and N. a. yucatanensis. It is elevated to full species status and is the sister species of a clade containing N. albicollisand N. derbyanus. Diagnosis Nyctidromus merrilliis intermediate in size, and the plumage is both lighter and greyer than N. albicollisand N. derbyanus, with a slate-grey coloration on the crown and back being particularly noticeable. There are also conspicuous black patterns on the coverts of N. merrilli, which in both N. albicollisand N. derbyanustend to be browner. Some individuals in arid areas of Mexicoare slightly more reddish in colour, but overall the three named forms within N. merrilli( insularis, merrilli, and yucatanensis) are similar to one another. Comments See comments in previous section on N. derbyanus.